Sports & Outdoors Promotions

Are you organizing a walk, run, or cycling event? Need some promotional product ideas? You’re in the right spot. Whether it’s for a great cause or just some friendly competition, events like these are great for bringing the community together.

People of all ages, sizes and shapes come to participate or support loved ones. Whatever the nature of your business, walkathons, marathons, cycling events, and the like give you the perfect exposure – that is, if you’re active enough to have the perfect promotional products.

5 Perfect Promotional Product Ideas

1. Custom drawstring bags.

Let’s start with the basic race necessity. Drawstring bags allow participants to keep all their valuables in one safe spot and are still comfortable enough to wear while being active. When the #1 racer is wearing your logo, others will have to chase after it.

2. Promotional t-shirts.

Hand them out at the registration table before the race so everyone can wear your logo during the competition, or hand them out at the finish line as a congratulations gift. There’s nothing better than being so exhausted you feel you’re about to pass out and then being immediately resuscitated by an awesome new free t-shirt. Trust me – I’ve been there.

3. Logo sunscreen.

It’s going to be a beautiful day out! Promote your image by protecting others’.

4. Custom water bottle.

This is perfect for keeping athletes’ water ice cold all day and is a lot more eco-friendly than handing out disposable bottles of water. Stay hydrated people!

5. Promotional rally towel.

Give these to the athletes to wipe their excellence (or, you know, sweat) on, or you can hand out the towels to spectators to swing around in the air as the athletes race past.

All of these promotional product ideas are perfect examples of giveaways that can be used over and over again. When athletes continuously use the water bottle at their gym or rock their awesome new t-shirt around town, you and your business will be right there with them. Keep your business active by putting your logo in the hands of the active.

It’s Opening Day, y’all, and the return of America’s national pastime brings with it the promise of some awesome promos.

Yes, there will be t-shirts and bobbleheads (lots of them). But there’s also a wide range of cool and quirky giveaways on teams’ promotional lineups this year.

MLB teams have been giving out promotional items since the 1960s to lure fans to games, and it’s a strategy that’s still effective more than 50 years later.

When he was the Mets’ Vice President in 1968, James K. Thornton told the New York Times: “People like something for nothing. Everybody comes to the fair.”

It’s true. Free stuff is a powerful motivator to get fans to the ballpark. Here’s a look at our roundup of the season’s 10 most buzz-worthy MLB promos.

1. Arizona Diamondbacks: Promotional slippers

Here’s a cool promo from the Snake Pit – and it’s especially for moms. The first 10,000 D-back moms get a cozy pair of slippers when they head to Chase Field on May 18. It’s definitely not an expected gift in the hottest state in the U.S., but still, we like it. We’re all for pampering moms with a great promo a week after Mother’s Day (May 11).

2. Chicago Cubs: Custom Etch-A-Sketch toys

The Cubs are ringing in 10 decades of Wrigley Field history, and they’re celebrating with a colorful assortment of throwback promotional giveaways: custom die-cast train engines, yo-yo’s, and Rubik’s Cubes just to name a few. Our favorite, though, is a nostalgic joy: custom Etch-A-Sketch toys. They’ll be handed out to the first 5,000 kids on July 13. Photo via chicago.cubs.mlb.com.

3. Cincinnati Reds: Mr. Redlegs mustache

Reds fans aren’t waiting for Movember to rock their ’staches – 20,000 of them will be sporting a groomed handlebar mustache a la Mr. Redlegs at the July 26 game. It’s a fun giveaway that captures the spirit of the Reds game experience, and will likely draw hordes of people to Great American Ball Park.

4. Houston Astros: Custom cowboy boot mug

Texans are in for some sweet cowboy swag at the August 8 showdown between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers – the first 10,000 fans will receive a custom mug shaped like a cowboy boot. It’s perhaps more fitting for the rodeo, but this is Texas, and anything cowboy goes. There’s even a cowboy hat giveaway the next day to bring the theme full circle. Yeehaw, y’all! Photo via www.crawfishboxes.com.

5. Los Angeles Angels: Cowboy rally monkey

Angels fans will be getting some cowboy promos all their own – a plush version of their beloved mascot: the Rally Monkey. He’ll be all gussied up in a Western shirt, cowboy hat and Angels bandana for fans to grab at the July 8 game. He’s so cute we can’t imagine this giveaway lasting long. Photo via www.stadiumgiveawayexchange.com.

6. Minnesota Twins: Custom barbecue tongs

It doesn’t get more all-American than baseball and barbecue. The first 10,000 Twins fans at the May 26 game will score a great promo – custom barbecue tongs – they can use all summer long to show off their Twins pride. And grill up some mean burgers.

7. Philadelphia Phillies: Custom sunglasses

Okay, so they’re not technically sunglasses – they’re more silly-nose-and-mustache glasses – but the “Phillie Phanatic Phun Glasses” are so different and fun, they had to make our list. Fans age 14 and under will snag a pair at the May 18 game, which incidentally, is the Phanatic’s birthday. Happy birthday to the green, furry creature that’s undeniably one of the best sports mascots around. Photo via www.stadiumgiveawayexchange.com.

8. San Francisco Giants: R2-D2 custom beanie

Lots of teams – MLB and minor leagues – have a “Star Wars Day,” and the Giants are taking things to the next level this season with custom R2-D2 beanies. The first 20,000 fans through the gate on August 16 will score an R2-D2 beanie with a Giants logo for Stars Wars Day. If you’re a baseball-loving Star Wars fan, this is the day to go. Photo via www.nextimpulsesports.com.

9. Seattle Mariners: Custom beard hat

Yes, that infamous custom hat is back in the Mariners’ promotional lineup this year. Be one of the first 20,000 fans on April 25, and you’ll score the hat that’s part ski cap, part faux facial hair. An update on this year’s hat – it’s blond!

10. Tampa Bay Rays: DJ Kitty plush hat

The hip-hop kitty that Rays fans love to love is going down in history as one of the coolest (and quirkiest) promo giveaways. The first 20,000 fans at Tropicana Field on May 10 can adorn their heads with the very cute DJ Kitty plush hat. It just makes sense to turn the most swagtastic feline around into a wearable promotional product. Photo via www.tbo.com.

So, there you have it: Our rundown of the top 10 wackiest MLB promos of 2014. We love a great bobblehead as much as the next baseball fan, but these giveaways would definitely get us out to the ballgame.

Hey, HR managers: Are you planning a March Madness promotion? More than 50 million Americans participate in March Madness office pools, according to MSN.

This year might just draw more participation than ever – there’s $1 billion on the line if you have a perfect bracket.

Warren Buffet, who ranks 4th on Forbes’ list of top billionaires, is kicking in $1 billion to anybody that correctly picks the winners of all 63 games in this year’s NCAA men’s college basketball tournament.

How’s that for some March Madness?

Instead of staffers having to slink around to stream games and check scores (which they’re going to do anyway), why not organize a March Madness promotion for your basketball-enthused employees?

OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service, says it’s smarter for managers to acknowledge the appeal of March Madness than to ignore it.

Robert Hosking, Executive Director for OfficeTeam, said in a Forbes article: “When enjoyed in moderation, there are potential benefits to March Madness activities at work. They can be a morale-booster and bring out team spirit in the office. It provides an opportunity for employees to bond as they talk about scores and root for their favorite schools.”

You can even eliminate the gambling aspect of traditional office pools by allowing people to participate for free – no buy-in required. Instead, winners score some awesome promo items as prizes – gifts such as custom Beats-style headphones or Bluetooth speakers.

Want to put a March Madness promotion into play at your office? Follow these four steps:

1. Get people pumped up about the promotion.

There are dozens of basketball-themed promotional products – from mini basketball hoops to notepads and stress balls – to introduce the promotion. Staffers already have basketball on the brain, and by handing out promo items, you’re building a buzz for the festivities.

2. Make a bracket.

Pass out copies of the bracket (here’s where you can print out the brackets) to employees who want to participate, and then gather them up before the tournament begins. You’ll also need a big bracket to hang up in a common area such as a break room or kitchen. It’s as simple as grabbing a ruler and sketching out the bracket on a poster.

3. Keep track.

After each game’s final buzzer, write it up on the big bracket. Everyone’s likely already keeping track on their own, but it fosters a sense of community when employees can gather in a central place to celebrate victories or lament defeats together.

4. Bestow the prizes.

Reward those with the most basketball prowess with some worthy prizes. Some of the biggest trends in custom logo merchandise now are custom audio gear and technology items. It’s important to select promotional products that participants actually want to receive. For help choosing the right prizes for your March Madness promotion, just call or chat with one of ePromos’ expert Brand Consultants.

Running a March Madness promotion can be a win in your workplace – and it can be done in just four moves. Don’t balk at your company’s basketball fans this time of year – give them a way to celebrate the season together.

You’ll be promoting camaraderie (and a fun company culture), and you’ll help boost employee morale. You know what that means – increased employee retention, lower turnover, more productivity in the long run, and most importantly, a jump in sales and profits.

FORE! The ever famous duck and cover call yelled out by golfers who just sliced right. Or maybe they hooked left. Regardless, that ball is in the bushes and you may or may not find it.

However, the next golfer to send that ball careening into the thick of unfortunate fauna might pick up that ball you could not find days ago. One person’s loss is another’s gain. Wouldn’t it be nice if losing a ball could actually make you money? Imprinting your company or business logo on a golf ball could very well do just that.

Pull out that driver and tee off with logo golf balls. Using major golf ball brands such as Titleist, Nike and Taylor Made, your custom creation will be remembered long after the turn. For fairway fanatics, this is a great marketing tool to help get your brand out there. Like any promotional tool, a good strategy is key when dispersing your logo golf balls throughout your market.

Logo Golf Balls Are a Hole in One Gift

Golf balls are a popular gift around the holidays, especially for an occasion such as dad’s birthday or Father’s Day. Think about the life span of a golf ball for a moment. No golfer ever keeps their balls until their golf-game retirement. Golf balls are traded, lost, and lent out all the time and as they pass from one person to another. Many people showcase their golf ball collections in their homes or offices. Having your logo on the ball, along with a web address or contact information, can be a creative form of word of mouth advertising and marketing.

Depending on what type of business you are in, logo golf balls can act as great giveaway items and can assist in recruiting new business. If you are representing at a tradeshow or a big conference, a golf ball serves as a memorable free gift that instantly markets your brand. Custom logo golf balls also make a unique leave-behind gift. From training a new staff or giving a sales presentation, leaving behind a logo golf ball is a creative approach to branding.

Whether you are a golfer or not, a logo golf ball is a fantastic promotional tool for companies of any size. Create your custom balls with ePromos and get them out on that course and tee off to put your business in play.

We have to hand it to Werner Co.—the ladder manufacturer knows how to get major brand exposure. It created a custom, nine-foot stepladder as the official 75th NCAA championship ladder.

When Louisville surged ahead to beat Michigan in last week’s NCAA championship game, that ladder gained Werner Co. some impressive exposure. Nielsen estimates that 23.4 million people tuned in to watch the game—a bigger audience than the last two men’s championship games, and easily the most-watched program on primetime TV last week.

As if that’s not enough, as the official ladder, Werner Co. was part of the iconic net-cutting tradition. The custom, in which the winning team gathers around the basket and collectively cuts down the net to celebrate its victory, dates back almost 100 years.

In the 1920s, the legendary Indiana boy’s high school basketball team would celebrate winning the state title by cutting down the nets as souvenirs.

The tradition lives on.

When the buzzer sounds, a ladder is positioned under the hoops and logo scissors (the scissors are, of course, sponsored too) are brought out.

“The net-cutting ceremony is a rewarding tradition for the winning team, and we are thrilled the ladder will be part of this unforgettable moment,” Chris Filardi, Werner Co.’s Vice President of Marketing, said in a press release.

Louisville took home the commemorative ladder to display for the next year. The ladder is remarkably unique, featuring plaques that highlight each year and the schools that won the tournament dating all the way back to 1939.

It was a glorious moment for Louisville, and Werner Co. was right there for it all. With that kind of brand exposure, there’s no doubt Werner Co. was a winner as well.

Promo know-how tip:

Sponsorship is a way to build prestige for your brand and gain that coveted exposure. Consider using logo signage and custom table covers for immediate visibility, and handing out promotional items to leave your mark on the event.

Every college bowl game comes with bowl bounty. You know, swag bags packed with gifts. Really, really awesome gifts.

This year’s swag bags include promotional gifts ranging from sporty sunglasses and sophisticated watches to flat-screen TVs and shopping sprees. There are even top-tier hair dryers in some of the gift bags. Hey, football players care about their tresses, too.

Actually, the trend now is for players to shop for others—specifically the ladies in their life, whether it’s a mom or a girlfriend. It’s kind of like a re-gifting of the swag bags.

And what a great bag it is. The NCAA permits each bowl to give 125 players per school up to $550 worth of gifts. Players can also receive awards worth up to $400 from the school and up to $400 from the conference for postseason play.

We don’t know who will win the rest of the games, but we do know one thing: Players will go home with some pretty nice merch.

Promo know-how tip:

The 35-game, 70-team, month-long mini season is a great time to have some fun with your customers. Create a swag bag for your business with promotional products, special offers and discounts. Our Promotions Specialists can help you put one together!